texas bound!

I'm leavin' (on a jet plane) Saturday for a week in Houston. I'll be working for the better part of the week, but hope I get to see you if you're there!

maybe steff was right

I went to see Little Shop of Horrors last night. It was Heather's birthday.

Confession: I really liked it. Yikes!

I've been spouting on for a few years now that I "don't love musicals", but maybe it's just that, like with many other things, I'm just really picky about my musicals. Steff has been trying to tell me this for years.

So I decided to do a quick bit of math and let the chips fall where they may.

Loved it:

• The Sound of Music
  
• Chicago
  
• Aida
  
• The Producers (although I never want to see it again)
  
• Mamma Mia
  
• Little Shop of Horrors
  
• Cats
  
• The Wizard of Oz (does that one count?)
  

Hated it:

• Annie
  
• Les Miserables
  
• The Phantom of the Opera
  

I guess it's just that I really don't like the few that it seems everyone else in the universe seems to LOVE...and that just doesn't make sense, does it?

for the mac lovers

My camera phone either sucks, or i suck at taking pictures with it...but you can see this one and others here.

window shopping

This was one of the window displays at Selfridge's last weekend.



Lots of the bits and pieces were mechanical. The yellow dog was spinning around like he was doing tricks to earn a treat. The dog made from thread spools was animated as well.

I wish I were creative enough to make up stuff like this and get paid for it!

bonny prince charlie

OK, so technically that name refers to Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Silvester Maria Stuart (December 31, 1720 – January 31, 1788), the son of James Francis Edward Stuart who was in turn the son of King James II of England and Ireland (James VII of Scotland). After his father's death Charles was recognised as King Charles III. But I digress...

The Prince of Wales paid a little visit to the thriving metropolis of Woking today, as part of a climate change exhibition going on in town.

We watched as he prepared to leave the vicinity from our conference room (gold star for the brilliant individual who chose our office space) and somebody snapped the picture below.



It almost rounds out my sightings of the royal family, since I've already been in close proximity to Liz and Will.

birthday shout out!

It's all about Heather today!

Birthday party in Covent Garden...if anyone wants to pop across the pond...

beware the ides of march

Or, if you're in Rome...go for a run.

when was your last deep belly laugh?

This weekend, I was reminded what it feels like to be a kid with no cares in the world. Heather has documented the root of such joy on her blog. Enjoy...and be jealous!

the coatless wonder

Today is the first day of the year during which I made my way out of the office and into town center (or centre, for those reading on the island) SANS WINTER WEAR.

I know we are still 9 days away from any official declaration of Spring...but I think it's safe to release the Hallelujah Chorus Choir to fulfill their intended purpose.

I suppose they could consider it a warm-up for their next gig - the completion of Hon's kitchen. Come to think of it, his journey could have made for some good reality tv.

you know you need a new routine when...

...you not only know all the baristas at your local Starbucks, but you know them well enough to anticipate, depending on who's on duty, whether or not you need to order your drink "extra hot" in order to obtain prime temperature for consumption.

mark your calendars, girls

Ladies, if you (like me) lobbied for support and accolades yesterday, you may want to note International Men's Day in your calendar.

Of course, if you happen to be reading this humble little blog from Romania, or can claim Romanian heritage...you could honor your man today.

not that anyone needs a reason...

...but why shouldn't a girl employ all the resources she has to hand?

That's right, ladies and gents...it's official: today is International Women's Day.

A bit from the link above:

The day remains an official holiday in [several countries] and is observed by men giving the women in their lives...flowers and small gifts.

Let the gift-giving commence!!

say no to spoon feeding!

Another tidbit from the mind of John Stott:

A doctrine of God
Behind the concept and the act of preaching there lies a doctrine of God, a conviction about his being, his action and his purpose. The kind of God we believe in determines the kind of sermons we preach.

--From "I Believe in Preaching" (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1982), p. 93.
----------------------------------------------------
--Excerpted from "Authentic Christianity", p. 332, by permission of InterVarsity Press.

Excellent exhortation to measure everything against Scripture...and resist the temptation to take anything for "gospel" that comes out of the mouths of men.

weekend fun

My friend Kelly and I met when we were both studying in France, and manage to re-connect from time to time. Turns out we're BOTH living in London now, so we got to celebrate Texas Independence Day together at the Texas Embassy along with Heather and a couple of other friends.


Saturday was full of good times, starting with lunch at Bodean's with Heather and Jonah. Mmmm...tasty! (How much for a rib?)

From there, our little trio headed over to St. Paul's Cathedral to do the obligatory tourist thing.


We all climbed up to the second level of the dome, where we took some pictures.


Jonah and I went for the full meal deal and headed up to the third level, but since I was armed only with my smarter-than-me camera phone, I can only offer this very blurry image of the spectacular view from the top.


The guided tour of St. Paul's was well worth the extra £3.00 on top of the price of admission. I was quite the eager student, because I enjoy learning about history (an ironic twist to reality since completing my formal education). I like to think that I was attentive and affirming to our sweet tour guide, but Heather has her own opinion of how the day went...which Jonah happily backs.

So now there's TWO of them ganging up on me. What hope have I of winning? Answer: none.

texas independence day!

On this day in 1836, Texas declared national independence. Yeah, yeah...we joined the Union later...but I'll still be celebrating at the Texas Embassy tonight!

surreal moment - workin' for the man

A bit of background:

1. I was very shy during my teens and early twenties.
   
2. I'm usually nervous and awkward around people I perceive as important.
   
3. I worked at that big, crooked E company for a few years - where, generally speaking, you were NOBODY if your title didn't include the words 'vice', 'president', 'managing' or 'director'.
   
4. I have never thought of myself as being 'all that', despite many attempts by others to correct (or at least amend) this thinking.
   
5. Despite landing in a fabulous place (the Blue Horse) after the crooked E went the way of the brontosaurus...it took me well over a year to even speak to the remaining two founders of the company (see item 3 above).
   
6. My title still does not contain any of the key words mentioned in item 3 above.
   
7. Even having been given a foreign assignment in a company that really doesn't do much of that, I still viewed myself as an average (what I like to call) corporate flunky until very recently, and frankly still consider myself that on most days.
   

That being said...imagine my own surprise at myself after this little episode unfolded last week during a very short visit to the Houston office.

[OF = Office Friend; BHF=Blue Horse Founder]

Me: Hi! Are we going to lunch? Where's Marketing Manager?
OF1: She's finishing up a meeting with BHF #1.
Me: REALLY? Where are they??
OF1: Office number blah blah down the hall.

Me: I'll be right back. [walk to the specified office, knocking expectantly on the open door as I enter the room, which also included External Executive Management Consultant Lady]

Marketing Manager and BHF #1 [simultaneously]: DOVIE!! How are you? When did you get in (...and various other greetings)?

Me: I'm just here for a couple of meetings and lunch, but had to come and hug your neck*, BHF #1!

BHF #1 [already standing]: Get over here! It's so good to see you!!

Me: I'll let you get back to meeting, but had to interrupt to say hi. [walk back to marketing department area.]

Me: Did you know BHF #1 is in the office?
OF2: Yeah...he's just in to meet with a few people today.

Me: I just had to run over and get a hug. [pause] You know, I can't believe I just did that without thinking!

To be fair, the Blue Horse is a VASTLY different place to work than the crooked E was...but still...wow! Funny how time changes things.

*Yes, I actually said "hug your neck" - I'll never be able to deny my Texas country roots.

march? seriously??

How does this happen? I mean...we JUST HAD new year's eve dinner!! January and February were an absolute blur. Tell me I'm not the only one...

Even though spring doesn't technically begin for 20 more days, it kind of already feels like it has already sprung. So I guess it's fitting that I have big plans to clean my flat and sort some paperwork tonight to get that whole 'spring cleaning' thing off and running.

Call me crazy, but I'm a little bit excited about this.

compassion for the needy

It's been a while since I posted one of the "John Stott Daily Thoughts", but I thought this one was especially interesting [emphasis mine].

The mission of Jesus
The mission of Jesus was a mission of compassion. The words *mission* and *compassion* should always be bracketed; indeed almost hyphenated, so closely do they belong to one another.

Again and again we read in the gospels that Jesus 'was moved with compassion' -- now by the leaderless or hungry crowds, now by the sick, now by a single leprosy sufferer, now by a widow who had lost her only child.

What aroused his compassion was always human need, in whatever form he encountered it. And out of compassion for people in need he acted. He preached the gospel, he taught the people, he fed the hungry, he cleansed the leper, he healed the sick, he raised the dead.

All this was part of his mission. He had not come to be served, he said, but to serve (Mk. 10:45). Of course the climax of his self-giving service was his atoning death, by which he secured our salvation. Nevertheless, his mission of compassion was not limited to this, because human need is not limited to this.

He was sent to serve, and his service was adapted with compassionate sensitivity to human need.

--From 'The Biblical Basis for Declaring God's Glory', in "Declare His Glory Among the Nations", ed. D. M. Howard (Downers Grove: IVP, 1977), p. 54.
----------------------------------------------------
--Excerpted from "Authentic Christianity", p. 320, by permission of InterVarsity Press.

Christ's death on the cross may have been the climax of his earthly ministry, but it is the beginning of God's ministry to us today. Maybe better said is that it's the beginning of our awareness of God's ministry to us today.

Since "every good and perfect gift is from above..." (James 1:17) and God "knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13) surely we owe thanks to Him alone for all compassions we have ever received, even before we knew they came from Him.

That God lovingly bestows "other" compassions is CRITICAL to our very lives. We need EVERYTHING from God, not just the cross; Christ's sacrifice is the conduit through which we are able to receive it...and does not lessen our need for other expressions of God's compassion toward us.

I submit that a generous portion of Christians wouldn't say that we don't believe "other" compassions are critical, but we often demonstrate it by how we go about our daily lives, saying "thanks for my salvation...I'll be on my way to work out the rest of my life now" with every step.

I am chief among the guilty.

good things

Spending somewhere between 18 and 20 hours a day in the hospital over the last 2 weeks has made me thankful for lots of good things* in my life (and my family's life):

• the unknowable love of my parents
  
• the ability to know the love of Christ which supasses knowledge
  
• precious friends that give me gifts I'll never deserve
  
• gifts that turn into blessings for others
  
• a fresh bottle of water after a long and wearying flight, and someone thoughtful enough to have it waiting for me
  
• the best home-cooked beef stew on earth, without asking for it
  
• dialysis - it's a good thing!
  
• love, joy, peace, patience, kindness
  
• pesto sauce
  
• cooking for more than 1 person
  
• lazy days on the sofa watching TV
  
• the daily grind of a routine
  
• being the only girl on a flight from Texas (that departed on GO TEXAN DAY) that emerged from international arrivals geared up in her boots and her hat - and not giving a single thought to what the locals must have thought
  
• Alexander Graham Bell
  
• international phone cards
  
• flowers
  

*This list is by no means exhaustive.

leavin' on a jet plane...

Two weeks and a day after jetting home to be with my mom while she's been in the hospital, I'm finally heading back to not-so-sunny England. It's amazing to me that a foreign land has become home (don't hate, Greg), comfort, routine, and the only place I want to be right now.

However, just as I've been finally been 'hitting my stride' in London...I've noticed a tendency when I'm in Houston to cling to my country roots. Let me explain. I'm a city girl through and through, but I grew up on 80s country music. The rule in the car was "driver's choice", and even when I was old enough to drive, my mom still insisted on country when she was in the car. At the time, I professed to hate it. However, for the last two weeks, about 95% of the time I've been in the car, the radio has been on COUNTRY MUSIC. Now, I grew into an acceptance of country music several years ago...but a lot of my recent listening has been to the "classic country" radio station. WHAT?!

AND...I bought new boots and a new hat while I've been here. Call it retail therapy. Call it homesickness. Cal it Rodeo Fever. It is what it is...and I'm a TEXAS GIRL TO THE CORE.

I LOVE being from Texas. It's the BEST!